Google's new Android developer verification rules took effect September 30 in four countries, requiring apps from participating stores—including Google Play, Galaxy Store, and others—to come from registered developers on certified devices running Android 7 or later. Users can still sideload unverified apps through a new advanced flow, but it requires enabling a developer option, authenticating, restarting the device, and waiting 24 hours before installation is allowed.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-01
Google is developing a hands-free way to trigger Emergency SOS on Android devices, according to code strings found in a new build of its Personal Safety app. The strings suggest the feature would require voice confirmation, letting users say 'yes' to proceed or 'cancel' to dismiss an alert, rather than pressing the power button five times as currently required.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-01
A teardown of Google Play Services version 26.38.30 uncovered text strings referencing a notification that would say Motion Assist was activated by Transit mode. This suggests Google is working on tying its anti-motion-sickness screen cues directly to Pixel's Transit mode rather than requiring manual activation.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-01
Android Authority highlights a two-year-old Pixel setting, Charging Optimization's 'Limit to 80%' option, found under Battery and Charging settings. Enabling it stops the phone from charging past 80% most of the time, though it occasionally charges fully to keep battery capacity estimates accurate. The outlet notes the feature can also reduce heat buildup when people use their phone while it's plugged in.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-01
Android Authority's Richard Priday writes that Google is launching a new line of high-end laptops called Googlebooks, positioned as a desktop evolution of Android meant to eventually replace ChromeOS. According to the piece, the initial lineup starts at around $1,000, with no cheaper entry-level models offered at launch.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-01
Google has listed its new Antigravity development platform on the Play Store, but the app is built exclusively for Googlebook OS devices rather than Android phones. Android Authority sideloaded the APK onto a Pixel phone and found the interface poorly scaled, with setup failing at a Terminal VM configuration step due to a permission error.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-01
Samsung is shutting down its standalone Samsung Sound app, which launched on Android and iOS only months ago for setting up and controlling its soundbars and Wi-Fi speakers. A notice in the app's latest update tells users it will be merged into SmartThings, and that they can keep their existing settings by registering their sound device there. Samsung says Samsung Sound will keep working until March 31, 2027, after which SmartThings becomes the only option.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-01
Teardown of Google Play Store version 53.3.21-34 uncovered code strings referencing a new 'playlist' feature that would let users group at least three games into a custom collection. The strings suggest users could name, describe, and color-code these playlists, plus add, remove, or delete games from them later. Google has not confirmed the feature publicly.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-30
Android Authority ran a two-week reader poll asking Pixel owners whether Android 17 QPR1, which began rolling out this month, introduced new problems. Of 1,458 respondents, about 68% reported some new issue, with performance (19%), UI behavior (16%), display glitches (14%) and connectivity (11%) as the top complaints, while nearly a third said they saw no new problems.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-30
Android Authority released its latest 'Wallpaper Wednesday' collection, featuring six reader-submitted images and three from its own team. The wallpapers are free, watermark-free, and available in both landscape and portrait formats as JPG or PNG files via a shared Drive link.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-30
Android Authority ran a reader poll asking how often people upgrade their smartwatch, offering options ranging from yearly upgrades to waiting until the device stops working. With seven votes recorded so far, 57% said they upgrade only when their smartwatch malfunctions, while 43% said they replace it every three to five years; no respondents chose annual, biennial upgrades, or not using a smartwatch at all.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-30
Android Authority found evidence in a recent Google Photos build of a new plus-shaped button that would let users add clothing to their virtual Wardrobe without resetting it entirely. Currently, tapping the button causes the app to crash, but the outlet also found hints of upcoming options to try on eyewear and regenerate outfits that don't render properly.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-30
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